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☆ Automatic Refunds and No More Hidden Fees: D.O.T. Sets New Rules for Airlines
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Transportation Department on Wednesday announced new rules taking aim at two of the most difficult and annoying issues in air travel: obtaining refunds and encountering surprise fees late in the booking process. The department’s new rules, Mr. Buttigieg said, will hold airlines to clear and consistent standards when they cancel, delay or substantially change flights, and require automatic refunds to be issued within weeks. They will also require them to reveal all fees before a ticket is purchased. Airlines for America, a trade group representing the country’s largest air carriers, said in a statement that its airlines “abide by and frequently exceed” D.O.T. consumer protection regulations.

Persons: ”, Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg Organizations: Transportation Department, Wednesday, Transportation, Airlines for America

☆ Now Arriving at an Airport Lounge Near You: Peloton Bikes, Nap Pods and Caviar Service
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A handful of new lounges opened by credit card issuers, including Capital One and American Express, have recently landed in airports across the United States, promising posh spots of refuge for select travelers awaiting their flights. At La Guardia Airport, caviar service will be available for pre-order. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, travelers can get complimentary massages, and at Denver International Airport, there are nap pods. Broadly, there are three types of airport lounges available to travelers: airline operated; shared-use spaces that aren’t limited to one airline or frequent flier status (think Priority Pass); and credit card lounges. For more than a decade, American Express was the only credit card issuer with lounges in the United States.

Persons: ”, Audrey Hendley, Chase Organizations: Capital, American Express, La Guardia, Hartsfield, Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Denver International Airport, Jackson, Chase Sapphire Locations: United States, La Guardia Airport

☆ 8 Incidents in 2 Weeks: What’s Going on With United’s Planes?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

An engine fire sparked by plastic packaging wrap, a tire lost shortly after takeoff and a plane veering off the runway: These are among the eight incidents that have occurred over the past two weeks on flights operated by United Airlines. While no injuries — or worse — have been reported, the mishaps have generated headlines and stoked rising anxiety about aviation safety among federal officials and passengers alike. All of the incidents happened in the United States, and five involved airplanes made by Boeing, a manufacturer already under intense scrutiny. In January, a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner in mid-flight, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. United, one of the world’s largest airlines, flies aircraft manufactured mainly by Boeing and Airbus.

Persons: jetliner, Scott Kirby, ” Organizations: United Airlines, Boeing, Alaska Airlines Boeing, Max, Airbus Locations: United States

☆ Facial Recognition: Coming Soon to an Airport Near You
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On a recent Thursday morning in Queens, travelers streamed through the exterior doors of La Guardia Airport’s Terminal C. Some were bleary-eyed — most hefted briefcases — as they checked bags and made their way to the security screening lines. It was business as usual, until some approached a line that was almost empty. One by one, they walked to a kiosk with an iPad affixed to it and had their photos taken, as a security officer stood by. Within seconds, each passenger’s image was matched to a photo from a government database, and the traveler was ushered past security into the deeper maze of the airport. Some travelers, despite previously opting into the program, still proffered identification, only for the officer to wave it away.

Organizations: La Guardia, Delta Air Lines, Transportation Security Administration Locations: Queens, Guardia, La

In the aftermath of that storm, safety experts offered advice on how people can stay safe if they are stuck in their vehicles. First, do not leave your car, experts said. If you run out of water, drink melted snow, Dr. Mitchell said. Drive slowly to avoid skidding, and note that it takes longer to decelerate in icy road conditions, according to AAA. Drivers should inspect tires monthly and before long trips, according to guidance issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Persons: Ken Zafren, ”, Gordon Giesbrecht, Steve Mitchell, Grant Lipman, Mitchell, Lipman Organizations: Woodrow, Stanford University, Alaska Native Medical Center, University of Manitoba, Credit, . Virginia Department of Transportation, Associated Press, American Kennel Club, National Weather Service, AAA, National, Traffic Safety Administration Locations: Alexandria, Va, Virginia, Alaska, Anchorage , Alaska, Seattle, Fredericksburg

☆ Scheduled to Fly on a Boeing Max 9? Here Are Your Options.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

approved inspection and maintenance procedures for the planes, clearing the way for the grounded Max 9 planes to fly again. Airlines said they planned to resume flying the Max 9s this week. Which airlines use the Max 9? Of the 215 Boeing Max 9 airplanes flown globally, United Airlines operates 79, the most of any airline, and Alaska has 65, according to Cirium, an aviation data provider. Their combined fleets represent about 70 percent of the Max 9 jets in service.

Persons: Max Organizations: Alaska Airlines Boeing, Max, Federal Aviation Administration, Airlines, Boeing Max, United Airlines Locations: Portland ,, Alaska

☆ Will Passports Be Replaced by Biometrics?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the year ahead, the use of biometrics — an individual’s unique physical identifiers, such as fingerprints and faces — will be expanded at airports in the United States and abroad, a shift to enhance security, replace physical identification such as passports and driver’s licenses, and reduce the amount of time required by travelers to pass through airports. Biometric technology will be seen everywhere from bag drops at the check-in counters to domestic security screening. This program is currently available at 30 airports nationwide, including Salt Lake City International Airport and Denver International Airport; the T.S.A. said it will expand to more than 400 airports in the coming years. The pilot program is now available at five airports, including La Guardia Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.

Persons: Greg Forbes, Delta’s Organizations: Transportation, Administration, Salt Lake, International Airport, Denver International Airport, Delta Air Lines, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, La Guardia Airport, Los Angeles International Airport Locations: United States, Salt

☆ Falling Domestic Fares and an A.I. Arms Race: What Travelers Can Expect in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +21 min

Arms Race: What Travelers Can Expect in 2024 At the start of what promises to be a very busy year, we look ahead at what you’re likely to encounter. With 2023 in the rearview mirror, we look ahead at what travelers will face in 2024. At United Airlines, for example, smarter software can offer rebooking options and issue food and lodging vouchers when a flight is canceled, rather than just rebooking a flight. United Airlines has suspended its flights indefinitely, said Josh Freed, a United spokesman. This year, travelers are expected to choose faraway places and board small ships, according to Virtuoso, the consortium of luxury travel agencies.

Persons: Chanelle, Hayley Berg, ” Ms, Berg, “, Robert W, Mann Jr, ”, Chad Burt, Oren Etzioni, Gilbert Ott, Hopper, Greg Forbes, Delta’s, Neville Pattinson, Mr, Pattinson, biometrics, Laura Lindsay, Joshua Smith, Smith, Laurel Brunvoll, Michael Zeiler, Airbnb, We’ve, Jamie Lane, ‘, ’ ”, Jan Freitag, “ We’ve, David Whiteside, Brian Kelly, Guy, Leigh Rowan, “ There’s, Kelly, Rowan, ” Mr, James Thornton, Sharm el Sheikh, Khaled Ibrahim, Harry Rubenstein, Rubenstein, Eyal Carlin, Josh Freed, Jack Ezon, Tom Marchant, Beth McGroarty Organizations: World Tourism Organization, International Air Transport Association, Analysts, Express Global, ”, airfare, University of Washington, United Airlines, Transportation, Administration, Salt Lake, International Airport, Denver International Airport, Delta Air Lines, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, La Guardia Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, biometrics, Thales, Air, American Airlines, Global, “, —, MidX Studios, LivSmart Studios, Hilton, Hyatt Studios, Accor Hotels, Boston University, Visa, Mastercard, Walmart, Target, Savanti, Chase, Intrepid Travel, Amisol Travel, East Travel Alliance, United, Consumers, Ki’ama, Wellness, Global Wellness Institute Locations: United States, Point.me, Salt, North America, London, Rome, Tokyo, Cancún, Las Vegas, Cayman Islands, Polynesia, Europe, Norway, Denmark, Air Canada, Bergen, Flam, Scandinavia, Italy, France, Malta, Slovenia, Maryland, Spain, Portugal, Britain, Egypt, India, Mexico ; Cape Girardeau, Mo, Niagara Falls, N.Y . Texas, Burnet, Sulphur Springs, New York, Vienna, Marriott, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Oman —, Tunisia, Northern Africa, Sharm, Cairo, Amisol Travel Egypt, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramle, Kimberley, Western Australia, Mitre, Patagonia, Ki’ama Bahamas, Bahamas, South Africa, Hudson, Tuxedo Park, N.Y, Malibu , Calif, Mexico

☆ War-Inflicted Slowdown Ends Robust Year for Tourism in Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which erupted in early October, has halted international tourism to Israel and severely blunted travel to neighboring countries in a ripple effect spreading across the entire Middle East. While the slowdown in international visitors is only one of the war’s economic repercussions in the region, it poses a significant threat to the economies of Egypt, Jordan and other nations heavily dependent on tourism and has swiftly reversed a banner year of travel in the Middle East. The war has affected all segments of the travel industry, with international travel operators scaling back or postponing excursions, cruise lines redeploying ships and airlines dramatically reducing service. And many travelers, heeding government warnings and their own worries, are increasingly wary about visiting the region, prompting waves of cancellations. “We foresaw the Middle East evolving into the ‘New Europe’ with the Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement and Saudi Arabia’s integration into the tourism system,” said Khaled Ibrahim, a Cairo-based consultant for Amisol Travel Egypt and a member of the Middle East Travel Alliance.

Persons: ”, Khaled Ibrahim, —, Hussein Abdallah, hasn’t Organizations: Amisol Travel, East Travel Alliance, UNESCO Locations: Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Europe, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Cairo, Amisol Travel Egypt, Lebanon, Beirut, Baalbek

☆ No Thanks, Grandma, I’m Saving Room for Airplane Food
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Some of the 30 million passengers expected to fly domestically over this Thanksgiving holiday may be stunned by what’s available to eat and drink 30,000 feet up in the sky. There are onboard espresso martinis, dessert carts and even tapas service. Some passengers believe the complimentary meal and beverage service in the most expensive cabins is the best it’s ever been, both in breadth of options and in taste. From the standard pretzels and Biscoff cookies to pricey cheese plates and sandwiches, the chasm between premier and main cabins continues to widen. First, it was reduced seat space and extra fees.

Persons: ”, Bobby Laurie Locations: U.S

☆ Yes, Maui Is Open. But the Loss of Lahaina May Reshape Tourism.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In Lahaina, in the weeks and months to come, increasing tourism will coexist with ongoing relief efforts. ‘We might be in the way’In the days after the fires, tourism to Maui was in a free fall. Messaging spread on social media for tourists to avoid all of Maui and paralyzed the economy, where tourism accounts for 70 percent of every dollar generated. Last year, about three million visitors spent $5.82 billion on Maui, according to state data. State and local leaders have spent the last two months pleading for tourists to visit.

Persons: who’ve, “, it’s, Josh Green Organizations: ”, CBS Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

☆ Need a Visa to Go to Europe? Get in (a Very Long) Line.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For most travelers from the United States, going to Europe is a relatively smooth experience, without the need to apply for visas or pay steep fees for short visits. These appointments, usually outsourced to for-profit companies, have been scarce in recent months. Applicants have failed to receive visas in time for their trips, or receive visas for the full duration of their travel. Ms. Yildirim, an assistant professor, said that she had applied for at least 10 Schengen visas in recent years. There are no visa centers in her area, forcing her to travel to other states for hard-to-find appointments.

Persons: Yildirim, it’s Organizations: Turkish, Travelers Locations: United States, Europe, Knoxville, Tenn, Europe’s, Turkey, India, South Africa, China

☆ What Worries Delta’s Lead Meteorologist? Snow in Atlanta, Yes, but Also Volcanic Ash
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

From thunderstorms and limited visibility to scorching temperatures and turbulence, the weather dictates when and where planes can fly. Severe weather is the leading cause of air travel disruptions in the United States. Aviation meteorologists plan for and around difficult conditions, crafting weather forecasts used to determine the nuances of flights, from altitude to optimal routes. Several major domestic carriers, including Delta Air Lines, have in-house meteorologists who monitor global weather 24 hours a day. In this cavernous and screen-filled room, Warren Weston, Delta’s lead meteorologist, recently spoke about the importance of data, the difference between surface weather and upper-air hazards, and how even one degree of temperature can change a flight plan.

Persons: —, Warren Weston, Delta’s Organizations: United States, Aviation, Delta Air Lines, Customer Locations: United, Delta, Atlanta

“It looks like somebody took a bunch of dynamite and threw it up on top of the trees,” he said. The hurricane made landfall on Wednesday in a sparsely populated area of Florida known as the Big Bend, which includes Levy County. Mr. Bobbitt, 47, knew that Cedar Key’s mayor had begged people to leave on Tuesday. “I felt like I had some resources here to be able to help folks,” Mr. Bobbitt said. “Our little downtown shopping district, with our restaurants and our shops — 100 percent of those buildings are ruined,” Mr. Bobbitt said.

Persons: Donald Cowan, Idalia, ”, Michael Presley Bobbitt, I’ve, Bobbitt, “, Mr, ” Mr, Kenny Young, Young, that’s Organizations: Cedar Locations: Levy County, Fla, Inglis, Florida, Bend, Levy, Gulf of Mexico

☆ Hurricane Hilary: What Travelers Need to Know
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Friday morning, Southern California was placed under its first ever tropical storm watch. While it’s unclear where Hilary will make landfall, this severe weather may disrupt travel and impact flights this weekend, particularly through Los Cabos International Airport in San José del Cabo, Mexico. On Friday afternoon, Hurricane Hilary was moving north toward the Mexican peninsula with sustained winds of up to 145 miles per hour. The storm is expected to weaken in the coming days as it nears the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula on Saturday, and Southern California by Sunday. Currently, there is a hurricane watch in effect for most of the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula.

Persons: Hilary, Hurricane Hilary Organizations: Southwestern, Cabos International, Hurricane, Sunday Locations: California, Southwestern United States, Los Cabos, Mexico, Southern California, San José del Cabo

In the throes of responding to the Maui wildfires that razed the celebrated town of Lahaina and claimed over 110 lives, Hawaii remains mostly open for tourism, despite the misgivings of both residents and tourists. “Do not come to Maui,” Kate Ducheneau, a Lahaina resident, said in a TikTok video that has been viewed more than two million times since it was posted on Sunday. Last week’s tragedy has intensified long-simmering tension over the archipelago’s economic reliance on tourism, a dependency that sparked anti-tourism protests in recent years and brought the state to its knees during the pandemic. Many residents, particularly in Maui, are furious over the uncomfortable, contradictory scenario of visitors frolicking in the state’s lush forests or sunbathing on white-sand beaches while they grieve the immense loss of life, home and culture. Others believe that tourism, while particularly painful now, is vital.

Persons: Kate Ducheneau, “, ” Locations: Lahaina, Hawaii, Maui

Large wildfires burning across the islands of Maui and Hawaii, fueled by intense winds, turned scenic beach destinations into smoky, catastrophic scenes on Wednesday. The fires are most intense along the western coast of Maui, according to local news reports, with the historic town center of Lahaina severely damaged. Here’s what travelers need to know. According to the local news outlet Hawaii News Now, at least three wildfires are burning on Maui, including one in Lahaina, a major tourist destination on Maui, and the upcountry section of the island. There are at least three blazes on the Big Island, in North Kohala and South Kohala, which includes the Mauna Kea beach area, according to Big Island Now.

Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, West Maui, North Kohala, South Kohala, Kea

☆ Whether You Call it ‘Skiplagging’ or ‘Hidden-City Travel,’ It’s Contentious
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On the last day of June, American Airlines agents at Gainesville Regional Airport in Florida canceled a North Carolina teenager’s flight after realizing that he had used a booking tactic called “skiplagging” or “hidden-city travel,” forbidden by airlines but used by some travelers to net flight bargains. He was forced to pay for a direct flight. Skiplagging is buying a ticket for a connecting flight, with a layover in the city that’s the real destination for the traveler. Often the fare is cheaper than if they’d actually bought a direct flight to their desired destination. Mr. Parsons said that American banned his son from traveling with the carrier for three years.

Persons: Hunter Parsons, Parsons, didn’t, they’d Organizations: American Airlines, Gainesville Regional, Flyers Locations: Gainesville, Florida, Carolina, Charlotte, New York

☆ Mother, Accused of Human Trafficking While Flying With Daughter, Sues Southwest Airlines
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The mother and daughter had flown a Southwest Airlines flight to Denver for a funeral. Unbeknown to Ms. MacCarthy, a flight attendant had suspected Ms. MacCarthy, who is white, of human trafficking, Ms. MacCarthy said in an interview Monday. Moira, her daughter, is Black. The officers questioned them, Ms. MacCarthy said, adding that her daughter cried in her arms throughout the entire interaction. Ms. MacCarthy showed her driver’s license to the officers; they did not ask for identification for Moira, proving that they were related.

Persons: Mary MacCarthy, Moira, MacCarthy’s, Unbeknown, MacCarthy Organizations: Denver International Airport, Denver, Southwest Airlines Locations: Denver

☆ The E.U.’s New ETIAS Entry Requirement Is Coming. Someday.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But a new entry requirement called the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, is set to go into effect next year. First, ETIAS is not a visa, and it doesn’t guarantee entry. It’s a travel authorization to enter 30 European countries, including the 27-country Schengen Area, as well as Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus. The authorization is valid for three years or until the expiration of the traveler’s passport, whichever comes sooner. It grants a traveler entry to participating countries for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Organizations: European Union, Travel Locations: Europe, United States, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus

☆ Delays and Cancellations: Know Your Rights
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It can help to know what airlines your carrier partners with, in case you need to be rebooked on another airline. This information isn’t always readily available online; experts suggest calling an airline’s customer service for more guidance. Go deeper than the dashboardThe Transportation Department’s airline cancellation and delay dashboard is a helpful resource that spells out what 10 of the larger domestic airlines offer passengers. Customer-service plans for specific airlines (located on their websites, and with links from the D.O.T. If a room is not available at the airline’s hotel, and you must find another accommodation, United will reimburse you for “reasonable hotel costs.” There’s nothing on the United customer-service site indicating that food receipts or taxi receipts will be reimbursed.

Organizations: Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, United

☆ Summer Airline Woes Are Here: What to Expect Traveling This Weekend.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Niraj Chokshi | Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Endeavor had canceled about 12 percent of its flights, while JetBlue had canceled about 9 percent and Republic canceled about 8 percent. United and JetBlue attributed to the problems to the weather, but also to the F.A.A. frankly failed us this weekend.” JetBlue said in a statement that it had struggled to keep up with its flight schedule after air traffic control limited trips for all airlines into and out of New York airports. said it had no air traffic control staffing issues along the East Coast on Monday or Tuesday. In a report published last week, the Transportation Department found that most of the 26 critical air traffic control facilities it identified were understaffed by 15 percent or more, as of March 2022.

Persons: Scott Kirby, ” Organizations: Newark Liberty International Airport, Endeavor, JetBlue, Republic, United, ” JetBlue, Transportation Department, New York Locations: United, New York, What’s, East, New

☆ Money Can Buy a Visit to Space or the Deep Sea, but It Can’t Guarantee Safety
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mountaineers have long climbed atop Mount Everest, and scientists in submersibles have descended into the Antarctic Ocean. In recent decades, travelers with deep pockets and little expertise have joined these explorers or even ventured further, paying to visit the bottom of the ocean or the edge of space, touching the literal bounds of Earth. But as the deaths of five people aboard the Titan submersible make evident, there are no clear safeguards in place when something goes wrong. It also raises questions about when risk is too great and dangers too immense for rescue. This all comes at a time when an increasing number of thrill seekers are undertaking risky — and riskier — adventures and expeditions.

Persons: ”, Anthony Berklich Organizations: Mountaineers, Titan, Citizen Locations: Everest, submersibles

This week’s attempt to rescue the five individuals trapped in the submersible, includes both the U.S. Navy and the Coast Guard. But, she said, when the cost of search and rescue efforts “crosses a certain threshold, funds may be diverted from N.P.S. The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to questions about the expense of past extensive search and rescue efforts. Credit... U.S. Coast Guard, via Associated PressMr. Derreumaux said he was thankful to the Coast Guard for saving his life, along with the lives of many others in need of its help. “I would not have called the Coast Guard if it weren’t a life-threatening situation,” he said.

Persons: ”, Chris Boyer, —, Boyer, Cynthia Hernandez, Peter Anderson, Cyril Derreumaux, kayaker, Derreumaux, “, ” Claire Fahy Organizations: U.S . Navy, Coast Guard, National Association for Search, National Park Service, OceanGate Expeditions, Abercrombie, Kent, The Coast Guard, San Francisco Chronicle, Coast Guard helicopter, . U.S . Coast Guard, Associated Press, Guard Locations: United States, New Hampshire, N.P.S, California, Hawaii, Marin County, Calif, . U.S

☆ A Savory Stroll Under the Neon Lights of Singapore
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Open 24 hours, this restaurant has a menu offering dozens of reliably tasty items, ranging from sweet to savory, that only cost a few dollars each. There are steamed buns filled with spicy chili crab, crispy prawn-paste chicken wings and fluffy custard buns, all which you can wash down with icy-cold sugar cane juice. Place an order by writing down numbered dishes on a paper checklist and expect them to come out hot and fast. Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling?

Persons: there’s Organizations: New York Times, Travel Dispatch Locations: Singapore

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